Learn how to prune a hydrangea in spring? Get the essential tips to prune hydrangeas in spring, remove dead or weak stems, cut back to healthy buds, and shape the plant. Avoid heavy pruning to preserve blooms on old wood varieties.
How to Prune a Hydrangea In Spring:
Hydrangeas should generally be pruned during their spring flower bloom for winter protection, with climbers receiving additional pruning once summer blooming has ended.
Pruning can prevent hydrangeas from becoming woody and overgrown, shifting their energy toward robust growth and abundant blooms. After pruning has taken place, make sure to add mulch made up of composted manure or another well-rotted source like manure mulch to preserve their condition and promote future blooming.
Hydrangeas require varied pruning practices depending on their variety, as different species bloom from both old and new wood. Unwise pruning could reduce flower production.
Hydrangeas Macrophylla, Aspera, Serrata and Quercifolia should be soft pruned by cutting back old flower heads down to two buds beneath. Hydrangea paniculata and aborescens should be hard pruned.
Pruning Hydrangeas:
Mophead and Lacecap Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) bloom on their previous season’s growth; an exception from the general rule which suggests they be pruned after flowering. Hydrangea stems feature cork-like textures that trap moisture during winter, only for it to rapidly freeze off as temperatures decrease and temperatures become frosty; cutting back hydrangeas in spring is often recommended to both protect their aesthetic appeal as well as support their health for vibrant plants. Pruning too soon after flowering could result in frozen buds which destroy both stems and buds, leaving damaged branches as well as their associated buds dead. By leaving old blooms intact until after frost has subsided, old blooms provide protection for new buds to form under them that emerge once frost has subsided and many open again when sap rises again in spring to bloom next year.
Remove last year’s flowerheads:
Remove any old flowerhead that overlaps an emerging new bud.
In April, prune old flowerheads to just above a pair of buds. Hydrangea buds can easily be knocked off; use secateurs with care if your plant has multiple stems to cut at an angle between each pair to encourage one shoot rather than two and help avoid congested conditions in your plant.
Cut out thin, weak stems:
To ensure optimal growth over the coming years, remove any weak or thin stems near the base of the plant, as well as one or two larger older stems at their lowest points for new shoots from within to develop within. Doing this will promote new blooms to form as new shoots emerge within.
If your plant has become overgrown, remove some stems directly back to their bases.
Hydrangea aspera and Serrata should also be lightly pruned early spring for old flower heads, crossing or long stems as well as any mopheads or lacy caps which need trimming back.
Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea aborescens bloom on new wood, so hard pruning should not lead to losing this year’s blooms. While pruning may not be essential, left unpruned the plants may get taller with all blooms concentrated at their top.
Cut back to a healthy framework:
Reduce last year’s growth to establish a healthier structure. Aim for 30cm-60cm when pruning; when managing large flowers or taller plants with multiple stems, prune back just above two healthy buds on each stem or less aggressively for natural looks or taller plants.
FAQs
Q1. Should I prune back my hydrangeas in early spring?
No; instead it is best to prune back your plants before new growth emerges in late winter or early spring.
Q2. Can anyone suggest when is the optimal time and date to prune hydrangeas?
To prune hydrangeas properly, late winter or early spring are generally considered optimal times to do this task.